معرفی
Lauren Church is a Lecturer (Education) and BOH Clinical Educator at the Sydney Dental School within the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. She is also a PhD Candidate whose research focuses on the critical intersection between oral health and systemic health, particularly cardiovascular conditions.
Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy and a Bachelor of Health Science (Honors). She is actively pursuing her PhD research at the University of Sydney while maintaining her clinical educator role.
Dr. Church's research interests center on chronic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, dentistry, oral diseases, primary health care, and preventive health services. She is a vocal advocate for integrating oral health into overall healthcare systems, emphasizing how poor oral health affects not just the mouth but the heart and whole body. Her work addresses the concerning reality that many people remain unaware of the oral-systemic health connection.
Her research has focused on developing digital health interventions to improve oral health education, particularly through the TOOTH (Text message-based Oral health educatiOn resource) project. This initiative engaged consumers and clinicians to develop a co-designed text message resource for oral health education that addresses barriers to accessing care and limited health literacy.
- Oral Health Therapist
- BOH Clinical Educator with University of Sydney
- PhD Candidate
- Active researcher at Westmead Applied Research Centre (WARC)
Dr. Church is frequently engaged in public health advocacy, having participated in Dental Health Week 2025 where she spoke with media about the connection between oral health and cardiovascular health. She has also presented her work at Digital Health Week 2025, demonstrating how digital technologies can provide more equitable access to health education and bridge the gap between oral and systemic healthcare.